Spot-light switch



Sep.` 4, 1928.

G. w. ALDEEN SPOTLIGHT swITcH Filed Feb. 20, 1925 Patented Sept. 4,1928.

reame erica.

EB'ENT GEDOR W. ALDEEN, VF ROCKFOR-D, ILLINOS, ASSIGNOR T0 FYRACMANUFACTURING CO., OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS, A ClltPORA'lI0Ny OF ILLINOIS.y

SPOT-LIGHT SWITCH.

Application filled February 20, 1925. Serial No. 10,500.

My invention further comprehends the proi vision ofa novel switch orContact means adapted for use with single contact light bulb, therebysimplifying the structure of the contact mechanism and switch structure,over the double contact type previously employed.

My invention also aims to provide a construction which will beeconomical to manip facture and will be of light and simple struc turenot likely to be rendered inoperative or Y get out of working` order,due to displacement or jarring loose of the parts.

The invention also embodies a novel switch structure and means foractuating the same to light or extinguish the spotlight, which can beeasily manipulated while grasping the handle of the device and whichwill be positively maintained in an operative or inoperative positionwhen once actuated, thereby insuring against accidently making `orbreaking of thev circuit, which would result in turning the spotlight onor off.

Another object of the invention is compre.- hended in the provision ofnovel means for vholding the cont-acts in engagement and at the sametime holding the light bulb in position against accidental displacement.

W'hile I have shown and will hereinafter describe my invention inlconnection with a spotlight and particularly one of the dirigible typeadapted to be mounted upon the glass windshield of an automobile or thelike, it is vunderstood that itis not restricted in its use to aspotlight but is capable of1 use in many structures. Furthermore manyvariations in the structure, arrangement and application of the partsmay be made as desired within thev` comprehension of my invention whichis limited only by the scope of the claims.

Other objects and attendant advantagesV will be appreciated by thoseskilledvin this art as the invention becomes better understood. byreference to the following description when considered in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, in which- .Fig 1 is a verticallongitudinal sectional view through a spotlight embodying `my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view taken at right angles to ,F ig. 1 withcertain of the parts shown in elevation; Y

Figs. Sand 4 arecross sectional views taken on the planes of the sectionlines 3.3 and 1 4 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation showing a slot kin the mounting tubeof the device;

Fig. 6 is a detailed perspective View of a movable contact memberemployed in connection with the device; and f Fig. 7 is a perspectiveview of a relatively stationary or sliding Contact forming part of thestructure or device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, in which similar characters ofreference desig-` nate corresponding parts throughout the several views.of the drawings, 1() designates the spotlight generally, samepreferablyinclud-v ing the usual reflector casing and lens having a tubularextension sleeve or neck 11 of reduced size at the back adapted to befixed over the forward end of a. tube 12 and retained in fixed positionas by means of a set screw 13 engaged through the neck and with theperiphery of the tube or otherwise `as desired. The' tube is adaptedtorbe mounted in a suitable support or bearing of the dirigible or balland socket type, or otherwise, if desired for example as shown anddescribed in my copending application Serial No. 692,975, filed.February 15, 1924. As illustrated lin dotted linesV in Fig. 1 ofthedrawings, the tube is shown mounted to support the spotlight foruniversal angular movement in a ball and socket bearing secured in anopening provided in al glass windshield of an auto- 9 mobile', but it isto be understood that I do not desire to be restricted to thisparticular use or mounting, as the device is capable of application toother uses without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

A handle 14tis mou ntcd onthe rear or inner end of the tube 12, andpreferably in the form of a-pistol-grip, having a handle barrel 15 atits forwardend fitted over the tube, in which position it is held by ascrew 1G which passes through the barrel 15 from below and also througha slot 17 longitudinally in the adjacent portion of thetube 12, the endof the screw entering` a hole in t-he opposite wall of the tube andthreading .or being kl In Vlated openings therein.

secured in a socket 18 in the barrel in alignment therewith. A nut 19preferably of arcuate forni, is threaded on the screw 16 and uponturning, the screw into securing position, the nut will be drawndownwardly for clamping the tube and barrel together between the nut andthe head of the screw, thus liredly securing the handle to the tube. Thebarrel as seen in 1 is provi-ded with-:iii opening 21 in ali gninentwith a slot or opening" Q() in th'e'tul'ie for the purpose'ofaccommodating conduit wires 9.2 and 23' will be hereinafter more fullyexplained. 1

l A sleeve 24 rotatably mounted on the tube 12, is provided withV aswitch collar 213y at its inner or rear end fixed to or formedintegrally therewith and bent` from an annular flange on thel sleeve tolit over the forward end of the barrel 15, the collar beingv preferablylrnurled to provide a grasping surface' by which vthe collar andv sleevemay be easily' manipulated or turned while grasping the handle, or`independently thereof. jT he tube 12 is provided with oppositelydisposedcircumferential slots 26" 'each having an oppositely beveled or inclinedcamming surface 27 @nits rear wall,`preferablyslo )ing from theintermediate portion or center of the slot which extends only partlyaround the tube. As shown the slots 26 are located in diametricallyopposite sides of the tube 12 to receive a headed pin 2S which isfixedly mounted in sleeve 24 and extends through similarly re- The pin28 passes through the slots and co-operates with the cani surfaces orcams 27 of the tube 1Q to actuate the switchiipon rotati ve'inovement ofthe switch collar 24. Y

An incandescent electric bulb Q9 enveloped bythe reflector casing in theusual .fashion has a single stud or contact 30 and oppositely extending'lugs or pins 31 adapted to enter bayonet slots 32, in the forwardendfoir the tube 12. By turning the bulb, the pins may be moved into`the curved laterally directed or circumferential. portions 33 of theslots in the usual'manner.` n

A stationary plug of suitable dielectric or insulating material. such asbakelite,

' porcelain, hard rubber or the like is mounted in the tube 1Q near the'forward end thereof' and held from rotation by a Inger-"projection 3Gstamped or pressed in from the vtube into a longitudinal groove 37 inthe plug so that the plug is rfree for Atranslation or longitudinalmovement, iut is splined or held against turning. a central opening 3Stherethrough, to receive a contact 39 preferably of T-shaped form bestshown in Figs. 1 and 7 of the drawings The shank of the contact exten lsthrough the opening in the plug and its outer end 40 may be enlarged orupset to retain the-contact in position and locate the same forengagement with the contact 30 of thelamp. The cross yby making andbreaking the circuit.

The plug is provided with y Leoszo mediatelv of its ends in spacedrelation tov the plug 35, and is provided with spaced openings 44 and 45through which the wires122 and 23 extend. The wire 23 is connect-edi toa terminal strip 46 secured in a peripheral plug 43, this strip beingelectrically connected through the pin 28 to the tube 12.

The'wire 22 after extending through the opening 44, is accommodated in acut-out or recess 47 in one side of the plug 4?),where it is connectedto the binding post 55.' The plug 43 is adapted to be turned in the tube12 switch collar 24 acting through the pin 28.v

The plug 43 is also pro-vided with a longitudinally movable contactmember 48 depicted more clearly in Fig. 6 of the drawings and shown inan assembled position in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. This Contactmember consists of an elongated strip of current conducting materiallike the contaetBQ such as brass or copper and is vprovided with anopening 4S) in the end of its shank portionV or stem andhas anenlargement 50 at its opposite end bifurcated as indicated at 51r toprovide spaced contact portions or furcations 52 at either side thereof.If desired the recess 51 may contain insulation, the important factbeing the provision of spaced contact portions adapted in one positionto vengage the Contact 41 and in another position normal thereto, tobridge or straddle the portion 41 so as to remain out of contacttherewith there- *Y The Contact 48 is slidably ymovable in a chamber 53in the plug 43, which hasan axial, slot 54 communicating vtherewith atits inner end Y through which the shank of thecontact 48V projects forconnection to the lead wire Q2 by means of the binding post threadedintol the opening 49. Y

The opposite or forward end of the plug 43 is provided with a transverseslot 56 extending dian'letrically thereof to movablyreceive theenlargement 50 therein. 'An expansible y coil spring 57 surrounding theshank 48 within the chamber 53 engages a cup washer-58 at f the head end50 and a Washer y59inthe op osite end wall of the chamberthrough whichthe slot'54 extends. The spring 57 urges the head 50 into engagementwiththe Contact 41 or the plug 35 depending upon the angular position ofthe head. Movement .is limited nesasao by abutment of the binding ypostagainst the end wall ot the chamber 53 between the chamber and thecut-out 47. The spring serves the dual function ot' insuring a closecontact between the head 50 and the contact 4l and of urging the bulboutwardly in its socket so that the pins 3l are forced into and heldintheir seats in the bayonet slots 32. rl`he bulb is thus lirmly held inplace and prevented from jarring loose due to vibrations incident totraveling over uneven roads or otherwise, and the parts are also heldfrom rattling or getting loose and Adisrupting the circuit or causingshort circuiting.

ln the operation of the device, the switch collar 24 is given a partialturn to rotate the plug 43 so that the contacts 52 are moved intoalignment with the contact 4l to close the circuit or are caused tostraddle the contact 4l to open the circuit. In this latter vposition,the contact portions 52 will remain in lirm engagement with the spacedportions of the insulated plug 35 upon opposite sides of the slot orgroove 42 in which the part 4l lits, so that the bulb is not only heldin position, but all the parts are retained in position and the contactsare held out ot engagement. Since the spring urges the plug 43 inwardly,the pin 28 will be held in the outer ends oli' the slots 26 so that theswitch will always remain in open or Closed position.

Another advantage ot' the construction is that the plug may movelongitudinally when the bulb is forced into its socket to tacilitateinsertion ot the bulb. During the insertion, the spring 57 will becompressed and thereafter its expansion will hold the contacts engagedunder tension and the bulb in position. Y

lVhile I have entitled the invention as a spotlight switch it will beunderstood that the switch is adapted tor general use and may varywidely in its construction without departing Jiirom the spirit of myinvention.

l claim:

l. ln combination, a mounting unit ineluding a tube having slots in oneend provided with seats, a lamp having lugs'engaged in the slots andseats, a plug mounted in the tube against rota-tion and adapted to haveslight longitudinal movement, a contact carried b said plug inengagement. with the stud ot the lamp, a second plug adapted to turn inthe tube, an operating ring on the tube having connection with thesecond-named plug for turning the same, means co-operative between thering and tube to hold the plug in two set positions when partiallyturned, a contact carried by the second plug and normally spring pressedtoward the lirst-named contact, the second-named contact beingbiturcated to engage the first-named contact in one position andstraddle the same in another position, and an electrical circuitincluding said contact and lamp and the tube` Q. In combination, amounting unit including a tube having slots in one end provided withseats, a lamp having lugs engaged in the slots and seats, a plug mountedinthe tube against rotation and adapted to have slightlongitudinalmovement, a contact carried by saidplug in engagement withthe stud of the lamp, a-second plug adaptedto turn inthe tube, anoperating ring on the jtube having connection with the second-named plugtor turning the same, means co-operative between the ring and tube tohold the plug in twov set positions when partially turned, a contactcarried by the second plug and normally spring pressed toward theiirst-nan'ied contact, the spring pressure serving to hold said contactsin open or closed positions and forcing said lugs of thelamp outwardinto the seats. Y

In combination, a mounting unit, a casing mounted therein, ai handlelixedly mountedv on said easing, a switch mounted in the casing andincluding a pair of contact carrying plugs slidably mounted in saidcasing for movements longitudinally thereof, a single spring pressedcontact carried by one ot said plugs, a contact element carried by theother plug, means carriedby the casing including a member adjacent saidhandle and movable about the axis ofvsaid casing for movingone'of saidplugs longitudinally of the casino' and the contacts into and out ot`engagement with one another, and a lamp having its base mounted in asocket formed by the casing and exerting pressure against one contactthrough engagement with the other when having its stud engaging thelatter. Y

4. In a spotlight ot' the character described. a mounting, a tube heldin the mounting` a pair ot plugs coaxiallyvand relatively slidablymounted in the tube and having contact members normally engaging oneanother, a handle on the tube, switch means adjacent said handle engagedwith one of said plugs :t'or rotating it for making Vand breakingelectrical connection between said contacts, a lamp mounted in one endot the tube in engagement with the other contact, said tube havingbayonet slots, the lamp having lugs on its base engaged with the slotsand adapt`l ed when seated therein to be held against outwarddisplacement therefrom, and a single spring engaging one ofsaid contactsand aeting against the other said contact. for holding the lugs in theseats ot the slots.

' 5. ln combination, a switch-carrying tube. a handle having a barrelportion adapted to telescope lover the rear end of the tube, a clampscrew carried by and extending diametrically of the barrel portion ofthe handle, the tube having a recess for the reception ot said screwwhen positioning the handle on the tube, and a clamp member on the screwWithin the tubel adapted. to be tightened against the internal ac'e ofthe tube for clamping the handle. and tube together.

6. In combination, a tube, a lamp plug and a switch plug in said tube,the latter plug beingv osillatory, current-supply lWires connected tosaid switch plug, the tube having an opening from one end through whichsaid wires are adapted to pass` and emerge from the bottom of the tube,a handle having a barrel portion adaptedy to telescope' over said end ofthe tube and having an opening from one end adapted to receive SaidWires and to register with Said opening in the tube, means for securingsaid handle on the tube, and a switch-operating Collar" on the tubeVfitting over the forward end of the barrel and Closing the end of theWire opening therein.

GEDOR W.l ALDEEN.V l

